While teams like the 2011 New York Giants and 2012 Baltimore Ravens defied the Super Bowl betting odds by winning the championship after less-than-stellar regular seasons, 2013 was the year of the favorites. The four teams that most fans and bettors thought were the best during the regular season were the last four standing, and Super Bowl online betting came down to the two top seeds. Those four teams are once again the favorites in 2014.
Of the four teams, the Super Bowl winning Seattle Seahawks had the quietest offseason, following the mentality that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Seattle focused on retaining all of the stars of its elite “Legion of Boom” defense, which allowed the fewest total yards and the fewest points in the NFL last season. The Seahawks should pick up right where they left off in 2014. Those looking to bet on the Super Bowl champs can get them at 13/2.
The co-favorite Denver Broncos took a different approach to this offseason, making a big splash in free agency. Already boasting Peyton Manning and one of the most dangerous offenses of all time, the Broncos set out to improve on defense, bringing in DeMarcus Ware, T.J. Ward, and Aqib Talib as free agents. Getting the same Super Bowl odds as the defending champions at 13/2, the Broncos should once again be a nightmare to defend against in 2014.
San Francisco (7/1 to win the Super Bowl) should be even more potent on offense than it was last year. With a healthy Michael Crabtree being joined by trade acquisition Steve Johnson, the receiving corps looks strong. Steve Johnson has had three 1000 yard receiving seasons in the last four years. As long as San Francisco can work out a deal with current holdout Vernon Davis, there is no reason to believe that the 49ers won’t once again compete for an NFC West title and a spot in the Super Bowl.
The New England Patriots are going off at 9/1 on the Super Bowl lines to win it all, and they should be even better on defense this year. While they lost Aqib Talib to the Broncos, the Patriots added one of the best cover corners in the NFL in free agent acquisition Darrelle Revis. Revis is the type of corner that makes the entire defense better, and with Tom Brady still running the offense, New England should continue its reign atop the AFC East.
Right behind the top four on the Super Bowl betting board are the Green Bay Packers at 11/1 and the New Orleans Saints at 14/1. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are always contenders, and their defense should be better in 2014 with the addition of Julius Peppers. New Orleans also added a big defensive free agent signing in free safety Jairus Byrd, and are coming off of a strong 11-5 bounce-back season. Both teams will be favored to win their respective divisions again.
Other contenders include Indianapolis (18/1), Chicago (20/1), Philadelphia (25/1), Atlanta (28/1), and Carolina (33/1)
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